Cholesteric liquid crystal window having multiple stable states and methods for use

A liquid crystal window comprising:

• (a) a first glass substrate;
• (b) a second glass substrate;
• (c) an electrode pair disposed between the first and second glass substrates;
• and
• (d) a cholesteric liquid crystal layer disposed between the first and second glass substrates and in electrical contact with the electrode pair, wherein:
• the cholesteric liquid crystal layer comprises at least three stable states,
• a first stable state is a planar state having a first visible light transmittance T1 and a first haze H1,
• a second stable state is a focal conic state having a second visible light transmittance T2 and a second haze H2,
• a third stable state is grayscale state having a third visible light transmittance T3 and a third haze H3, and
• T1>T3>T2 and H1<H3<H2.